Knitting machine



1961 F. c. WIESINGER 2,968,170

KNITTING MACHINE Original Filed June 12, 1957 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 INVENTOR.

4 FREDERICK 0. MES/N65}? 6,4 A T TORNE Y Jan. 17, 1961 F. c. WIESIINGERI 2,968,170

- 0 KNITTING MACHINE Original Filed June 12, 1957 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 fi s s FREDERICK C. Ma's/Nana A TTORNE Y United States Patent O KNITTING MACHINE Frederick C. Wiesinger, Feasterville, Pa., assignor to Wildman Jacquard Co., Norristown, Pa., a corporation of Pennsylvania Continuation of application 'Ser. No. 665,252, June 12, 1957. This application Dec. 1, 1959, Ser. No. 856,524

6 Claims. (Cl. 66-20) This invention relates to knitting machines and to a method of knitting and more particularly, to rib type, multifeed machines for knitting a rib cuff and in continuation of that cuff an interlock fabric without changing yarns or disturbing the normal feeding of the yarns, and to a novel method of knitting to produce such fab- 1108.

This application is a continuation of copending application Serial No. 665,252, filed June 12, 1957, now abandoned.

It is a general object of the invention to devise a knitting maohine and method of knitting for producing fabric including a true rib cuff and interlock fabric formed in direct continuation thereof which shall be extremely simple, effective, and which will produce at a rapid rate.

A further object is that of devising such a machine and method by which fabric of first quality may be realized, that is, a machine which will knit a true rib cuff of proper weight and interlock fabric in which the wales at opposite faces lie back to back.

A more specific object is that of providing the above mentioned fabric in a multifeed knitter having a relatively great number of feeds entirely by control of the needles and without resort to displacement or control of the yarn feeders themselves in any way.

A further object is that of providing a machine in which a single yarn may be fed at each of a relatively great number of feeders and wherein during the knitting of a rib cuff, without at any time altering the feeder position or the manner in which their yarns are presented by the feeders themselves to the needles, yarn from a particular feeder may be fed to and taken by needles passing that feeder but shall be so controlled by needle manipulation only that it is eventually knited with another yarn fed to said needles at a next following feed.

Other objects will become evident from the following description of the invention.

In the knitting of various body garments, e.g., material for sweaters, it is frequently required to knit a cuff of true rib fabric and in continuation thereof, a body (so-called) of interlock fabric. In addition a draw thread may be interposed between each body portion and the succeeding cuff by which the material may be separated prior to or after finishing and in any event, before cutting the material to form blanks for sewing.

Such fabric has been knitted heretofore, mostly by forming a cuff of rib (l x 1) (2 x 2) or the like and then interlock material in continuation, by striping yarns in and out as required.

Also, according to another system as outlined in United States Patent 2,775,880, a l x 1 rib cuff may be knitted and interlock fabric formed in continuation of the cuff with each yarn at a plurality of feeds being separately knitted during the interlock work at the body, while in the rib cuff each pair of yarns is knitted at a single one of a particular pair of feeds by resorting to a rather complicated and highly specialized type of yarn feeder mechanism and controltherefor. By this patented means the leading one of a pair of feeders is displaceable away from its normal position to a position in which needles nearest that feed cannot engage the yarn supplied thereat. The means to move the feeders as described are, of course, specially controlled at appropriate times and the result is that at rib knitting in the cuff, the yard fed at these movable and displaced feeders is transferred to the next trailing yarn feed for delivery thereby to the needles as they pass that feed. Of course, at the termination of the cuff knitting, the pattern controlled means have to be operated to return the displaced yarn feeders to their original position. The feeders which are not displaced must also be specially devised to receive and guide yarn received from a preceding displaced feeder.

According to the instant invention, fabric of the requisite type is formed on a very simple dial and cylinder body type knitting machine wherein all the yarn feed-' ers are, when assembled in proper operating relationship, virtually fixed and immovable. These feeders are substantially identical and present their yarn in one invariable relationship to the needles.

The dial and cylinder machine is basically of the type shown in United States Patent 2,082,127 in which the needle carriers are not rotated but wherein yarn supplies and both cam carriers are. However, it is to be understood that this involves a matter of relative movement of parts only and the invention is by no means limited to the particular machine taken by way of illustration.

The knitting of a rib cuff, e.g., a 1 x l cuff, is accomplished by so controlling the needles that with the yarns fed as described, by needle manipulation only, the first of a particular pair of yarns is taken by those needles at a leading feeder and is held by the needles lowered to a tuck position until they arrive at the second of that pair of feeders at which time they take a yarn thereat in addition to that taken at the first feeder and knit both. Thus the rib cufi is knitted of stitches drawn from both yarns and is of weight and feel comparable to that of the adjoined interlock work. 1

At completion of each cufi, a change to interlock is effected merely by altering the cams to set up the proper needle paths. The yarns still fed, one at each immovable feeder, are taken and are also knitted at that feed or station. The selection of needles is, of course, that required for interlock knitting.

It is not necessary at any time to rack the dial and the set up of needles in cylinder and dial is most advantageous for this work since the needles in both carriers are in direct alignment. The interlock work is that most acceptable, namely, back to back wales formed by a me dle over needle set up in the carriers. At no time, however, is there an interference between needles of opposite groups. a

The invention will be described in greater detail by reference to one specific embodiment thereof as illustrated in the accompanying figures of drawing, wherein:

Fig. l is a developed view of a part of a knitting machine embodying the invention.

Fig. 2 is a view of the fabric as the same would come from the machine.

Fig. 3 is a diagrammatic view of the cylinder cams, needle pathways and the yarn feeders as the parts are positioned for knitting interlock.

Fig. 4 is a corresponding view of the dial parts.

Fig. 5 and 6 are views similar to Figs. 3 and 4, but showing parts during knitting a rib cuff.

Now referring to Fig. l, the knitting machine includes among other parts, a cylinder 10 and a dial 11 each of which is slotted in the usual way to serve as a carrier for its cylinder or dial needles as the case may be. The needles are of latch type and are affected by cams shown in deail in Figs. 3-6. There are an equal number ,of

needles in each carrier and those in the dial align with those in the cylinder.

These needles are of two differentiated types which will be specifically referred to herein as long needles and short needles and denoted by numerals 12 and 13, Fig. 3, at the cylinder. The dial needles are similarly differentiated, 14 being a long needle and 15 a short one, Fig. 6. This distinction makes possible butts at widely different heights along the cylinder and likewise, at different radial distances from the dial center. While a tail 16 makes needle 15 nearly as long as needle 14, the butt position is mainly considered in designating these needles as long and short. The butts themeselves are preferably all of the same length. Each length of needle operates under the influence of cams moving in the pathway of its butts and thus long and short needles may be governed independently. In practice according to a preferred mode of operation, the needles are set up in a 1 x 1 alternation in their respective carriers.

Yarns carried upon a creel or the like as in United States Patent 2,705,410 are passed through the usual stop motions and are threaded through feeders, one yarn and one feeder being identified with each feeding station. Here feeders 17 and 18 have yarns Y and Y threaded through apertures or eyelets in a sort of trailing projection 19 for each feeder. A second guide 20 also serves to control the yarn as it approaches the feeding point.

Each of these feeders is attached permanently to the top and outer surfaces of a dial cap 21, preferably by an attaching bracket 22. A screw 23 passes through a slot in the upper part of the feeder and is secured in the end of the bracket, the latter being fixed to the cap 21 by another screw or screws 24. Since all of these feeders are identical it is necessary to describe only one in detail. According to one specific embodiment of the invention, a machine for knitting sweater blanks has been provided with thirty-two of these feeders and a single finger movable to and from a feeding position and having a cutter and binder associated therewith for the purpose of controlling a draw or separation thread in a manner well known to those skilled in the art.

Referring to Fig. 2, the fabric as it comes from the machine comprises a rib cuff 25 (1 X l as herein contemplated), an interlock body 26, a few so-called nonrun welt courses 27, a loose or draw thread 28 after which the cycle is repeated by starting another cufi with a French or other welt constituting a selvage. The interlock body and also the cuff may be of any desired length depending upon the purpose to which the fabric is to be put. Of course, the units are separated by cutting and pulling out the draw thread 28 whereupon the material finished and split, preferably at a part thereof characterized by the usual floated wales at which changes are made, is cut to shape and size according to the article or garment for which it is to be used.

Now referring to Figs. 3 and 4 in which cams for a two feeder section are shown in position to knit interlock, the butts of short, cylinder needles are controlled to follow a path 29, knitting at the second feeder 18, while long needles 12 are caused to conform to a pathway 30 and knit at the leading feeder 17.

Likewise, short dial needles 15 conform to pathway 31 and the companion long needles 14 in the dial take yarn and knit at feeder 17. Their butts describe a pathway 32. It is to be understood that the cams and feeders move in the direction of the arrow and that these pathways are traced by the needle butts as they are moved by the passing cams.

In describing the cams in more detail, it should first he understood that during knitting a cuff or an interlock section, the short needles always knit at the even numbered feeders, that is, they take yarn and are drawn down to knit at those feeds. They may be so controlled during cuff knitting as'to clear their latches and to take yarn at odd numbered feeders but may not knit thereat 4 although they are drawn to a tuck position, that is, a position in which the yarn taken by them lies on their latches. Alternately, these short needles may be controlled to pass the odd numbered feeder at a welt position.

Long needles which participate in interlock knitting always pass through even numbered feeders while in welt position, but may selectively be caused to clear their stitches, take yarn and to knit at the odd numbered feeders or may pass through those stations at welt position.

Certain feeding stations in the group are utilized for special purposes and the part they play in the cycle and the specific manner of performing their function will be explained in detail in later paragraphs of this disclosure.

First taking the cylinder cams, Fig. 3, all are relatively fixed except three pairs of gate cams, two at the odd numbered feeds and one at even numbered feeds. Here a pair of feeds, that is, a cam section corresponding to two knitting stations served by feeders 17 and 18 are described as representative. Top gate cams 33 and 34 are vertically movable by a pattern controlled means (not shown) and serve to direct butts of short needles 13 either below a dividing cam 35 as shown or above that cam as in Fig. 5. These gate cams are well known and a description thereof available in United States Patent 2,696,720. They are movable up and down by any convenient pattern control means, for example, that which forms a controller unit for Circular Jacquard Knitting Machines and which is illustrated and described in United States Patent 2,082,127. Since these parts and their general operation and function are known and description available, further illustration and disclosure do not appear necessary here.

Likewise, gate cams 36 and 37 are movable to direct butts of long needles 12 over or under dividing cam 38.

At the next following cam set gate cams 39 and 40 are controllable and serve to raise short needles to a latch clearing position, Fig. 3, or to maintain them at a tuck level, Fig. 5.

Other cams include, in the upper group, an upper guard cam 41, a lower guard and raising cam 42, a drawdown cam 43 and its complementary cam 44, and finally, stitch cam 45 and levelling cam 46.

In the lower group, needles that have cleared their latches are affected by a draw-down cam 47 and then knit off at stitch cam 48 whereupon they are raised slightly by levelling cam 49. If these long needles are to be maintained at welt position they pass below cam 38 and are prevented from assuming too low a level by guard cam 50.

Since long needles never take yarn or knit at the even numbered weeds, their butts maintain them at welt posi tion under the influence of earns 51, 52 and 53.

At corresponding feeding stations at the dial, Fig. 4, dial needles are likewise affected by certain fixed and movable cams. Short needles 15 always knit at the even numbered feeds and may or may not take yarn at the odd ones. Guard cams 54, 55 and 56 serve to limit movement of those needles while a swinging cam 57 permits them to pass in welt position, Fig. 4, or may move them to clearing position, Fig. 6. If they are cleared, cam 56 retains them in tuck position.

A second swing cam 58 may be set to move its needles to latch clearing or knitting position after which they knit at stitch cam 59. Then they are advanced slightly by guard cam 60.

Long dial needles 14 may be cleared by a swing cam 61 and are guided by guard cam 62 to engage stitch cam 63 by which they are caused to knit. They always pass even numbered feeds in welt position so are guided in a concentric pathway by cams 64 and 65.

These swing cams are controlled by any suitable pattern means such as that of United States Patent 2,082,127, similar cams, their pivots, linkage to actuate them and the pattern mechanism all being disclosed therein.

By way of example, a thirty-six feed machine may be understood as having thirty-two of those feeds employed directly in the knitting of the rib cuff and of an interlock body section. As will be seen the interlock section is formed with each yarn of the thiry-two being knitted at its particular station. However, the rib cuff is really formed at sixteen of the thirty-two feeds, so that each feed at which stitches are drawn and loops cast off will be the even numbered feeds as designated.

Four of the feeding stations are utilized for special purposes, for example, at feed eleven, a draw thread is fed in more or less a conventional manner. There a movable yarn feeding finger such as those of United States Patent 2,082,127 is used, there being only a single finger needed here. A cutter and binder as in said patent operates in conjunction with that finger so that the draw thread may be striped in and out at the proper time.

The next following feed, that numbered twelve, is employed for casting off stitches from short cylinder needles. This is a part of the draw thread insertion.

The feeds from one through ten function as a part of the thirty-two feeds, above mentioned, as do feeds thirteen through thirty-four. Feed thirty-five functions to cast off stitches from long needles, both cylinder and dial.

Feed thirty-six is set so needles from all groups, both dial and cylinder and long and short needles, are tucked. That is incidental to the pick up upon going from the cuff to an interlock body.

There are three latch openers utilized, one at feed number thirteen for cylinder needles only and two just before feed number one, these serving for cylinder and dial needles.

Now having described the mechanism involved, its operation during the knitting of fabric as illustrated in Fig. 2, will be explained. Assuming that the machine is knitting in the cuff 25 (l x 1 rib), the condition of Figs. 5 and 6 apply. Gate cams 33 and 34 are raised, while gates 36, 37 and 39, 40 are both in lowermost position. Cam.61 in the dial is swung inwardly as is the cam 58, and cam 57 is swung outwardly.

As a result of this long needles in both groups are passing in inactive or welt positions. They have no stitches on them and play no effective part at the time.

' They may be considered to trace pathways 66 and 67 in the cylinder and dial, respectively.

Short needles trace pathways'68 and 69. These move upwardly and outwardly to their maximum extents of travel and clear their latches of loops already held, then 'in being retracted by cams 41 and 56, and at the same time taking a yarn Y at the odd numbered feed, feeder 17, for example, they move to tuck position in which they hold that yarn on their open latches as they continue on through their next following feeders and cams, the even numbered ones, feeder 18 as shown. they are engaged by stitch earns 45 and 59, cylinder and There dial, respectively, and are drawn down to knit as they take the second yarn Y. Thus both the yarn Y taken at feeder 17 and Y at feeder 18 are drawn together into I stitches of proper weight for a substantial and serviceable cuff.

. riers. That prepares for the pick up at the start of interlock work at feed number one. Feed thirty-six, of course, has no yarn feeder, but its cams function to raise needles to a trick level which is sufiicient for the openers to function. These latch openers continue to function all through the body knitting. At that time-short needles knit at evennumbered feeds and long needles at odd numbered feeds. The gate cams 33 and 34 are lowered, 36 and 37 are raised as are cams 39 and 40 in the cylinder. In

the dial cam 57 is inactive, while cams 61 and 58 are active, that is, they are in outermost position.

Long needles conform to pathways 30 and 32 knitting yarn Y at feed 17, for example, and short needles tracing pathways 29 and 31 knit yarn Y at feed 18. The result is back to back interlock work, section 26, Fig. 2.

At termination of this body section, a few courses (four, for example) of non-run welt courses 27 are formed. To do that, feed number six welts the short dial needles; feeds numbered eight, sixteen and eighteen do the same. This happens during the last round of knitting in the body and at these courses loops are not cleared so that at the next courses at which these respective needles knit, that is, courses in section 27, they form excess fabric at certain wales tending locally to distort the fabric to form a sort of run resist edge when the units are separated.

At this time the draw thread is inserted. Feed eleven then has its yarn, the only one capable of being striped in or out at will, thrown into action for a round of knitting. The cylinder and dial short needles take this yarn and knit it so temporarily stitches of the draw thread are formed on a maximum of needles which may knit at a feed. Also, this is the only time these short needles knit at an odd numbered feed.

At the succeeding feed twelve the short dial needles welt to hold their stitches while the cylinder needles cast off. This gives up yarn to make a suitably loose draw course.

Bearing in mind that a latch opener is working at feed numbered thirteen, a sort of French welt is then started at the next cuff section by picking up at feeder fourteen on short needles at both the dial and cylinder. Those needles are welted at feeds sixteen and eighteen thereby forming a fast edge whereupon knitting continues to repeat the cycle as at cuff 25, Fig. 2 and with the cam positions of Figs. 5 and 6.

This forming of a selvage is mentioned for completeness although, of course, the knitting of a French or other type welt is well known to those skilled in the art.

It must be borne in mind that the insertion of the draw thread is an extra function, needed only in that it provides a quick and easy way to separate the sections. The thirty-two feeds and the fixed feeders thereat along with the three added stations with cams and controls therefor although there are no yarns presented at these three stations comprise the more essential parts of the invention. The draw thread could, of course, be dispensed with and the sections cut apart.

The stitch cams in both cylinder and dial are adjustable to effect an initial setting, but once adjusted in accordance with the stitch length desired, they are locked more or less permanently in position.

The size of such a machine may be in the order of thirty-two inches, more or less, that being a practical figure for a machine having thirty-six knitting stations as described here. However, this as well as other dimensions and figures may be varied in accordance with practical requirements. The cam sections preferably include two feeding stations and thus are grouped in pairs.

The long and short needle set up as described constitutes a very simple and effective manner of obtaining the selective actuation of the needles, but it is to be understood that other schemes may be utilized. For example, butt differentiation on needles, jacks in combination with needle differentiation, or any one of these alone or in combination with another may be used to effect the necessary selectivity in the needle operation.

The yarn feeders are, as described, as simple as practical and the manner in which they feed their yarns is one virtually invariable, yet one which cannot fail to accomplish its intended purpose. No aids in the form of wire guides or pushers and no special channels, grooves or other conformations at the feeding means need be attai provided as there is no time at which a yarn need be moved or directed to or in any manner other than the single pathway in which it is most naturally guided.

In certain of the claims reference is made to the dual relationship of yarns forming a cuff. This terminology merely denotes the fact that two yarns are fed and knitted into stitches for their cumulative effect, but without regard to any plating relationship between the yarns.

While the invention is by no means dependent thereupon, the machine may be so operated as to be rotated at one speed during knitting in the cuff and in the body, that is, the fastest practical speed for such work, but when effecting changes of cam positions differently to control needles, the speed of rotation is preferably considerably reduced. This is all a matter well understood by those familiar with this art and with the operation of the general type of machine involved.

While one embodiment of the invention has been disclosed, it is to be understood that the inventive concept may be carried out in a number of ways. This invention is, therefore, not to be limited to the precise details described, but is intended to embrace all variations and modifications thereof falling within the spirit of the invention and the scope of the claims.

I claim:

1. In a knitting machine for knitting a rib cuff and interlock fabric in continuation of said cuff, the combination of a needle cylinder, a dial and needles operably carried by said cylinder and dial, cams for actuating said cylinder and dial needles, relatively fixed yarn feeding means at each of a plurality of feeding stations, and means for causing those yarns fed at two consecutively effective feeding stations to be taken at their respective stations, but knitted together at the second of said stations which comprises certain movable cams individual to said feeding stations for causing needles to take yarn at a feed and to hold that yarn in tuck position until said needles take a yarn at a next following feed, and then to knit thereat. i

2. In a knitting machine for knitting a rib cuff and interlock fabric in continuation of said cuff, the combination of a needle cylinder, a dial and needles characterized by differently positioned butts carried by said cylinder and dial, cams some of which are movable to different positions during knitting for actuating said needles, relatively fixed yarn feeding means at each of a plurality of feeding stations, and means including said movable cams for causing those yarns fed at two consecutively effective feeding stations to be taken at their respective stations, but knitted together at the second of said stations when said movable cams assume one of their positions and effective, when moved to another of their positions, for causing needles to take yarn and to knit at each of said yarn feeding means.

3. A method of knitting in a rib knitting machine having a cylinder, a dial, latch needles operatively main tained in said cylinder and dial and yarn feeding stations adjacent to and between which and said needles there is relative movement to form a rib cuff and an interlock fabric in continuation of said cuff which comprises the steps of continuously feeding a yarn to the needles at each of a plurality of feeding stations, and during such feeding, knitting the rib cuff by taking the yarn by the needles at at least one of the feeding stations and retaining it in the hooks of said needles the latches of which are cleared but which are drawn down to only a tuck level, maintaining such needles at said level until they are affected at the next following station, and at that station controlling needles to take a yarn fed thereat in their hooks along with that previously taken and to knit both yarns, and when knitting of said cuff has been terminated, altering the selection of needles to take yarn and draw knitted stitches thereof by alternate rib and cylinder needles at one feed and then intermediate ones of said needles at the next to form interlock fifip ,7 y i 45A method of knitting in a rib knitting machine havinga cylinder, a dial, latch needles operatively maintained in said cylinder and dial and yarn feeding stations adjacent to and between which and said needles there is relative movement to form a rib cuff and an interlock fabric in continuation of said cuff which comprises the steps of continuously feeding a yarn to the needles at each of a plurality of feeding stations, and during such feeding, knitting the rib cuff by taking the yarn by the needles at alternate ones of said feeding stations and retaining it in the hooks of said needles the latches'of which are cleared but which are drawn down to only a tuck level, maintaining such needles at said level until they are affected at the next following (intermediate) station and at those intermediate stations controlling needles to take ayarn fed thereat in their hooks along with that yarn taken at the preceding feed and th'enknitting both yarns, and when' knitting ofsaid cuff has been terminated, altering the selection'of needles without changing the manner of feeding the yarns and taking yarn'and drawing knitted stitches thereof by alternate rib and cylinder needles at one'feeda'nd 'then intermediate ones of said needles at the next to form interlock fabric.

5. A method of knitting in a rib knitting machine having a cylinder, a dial, latch needles operatively maintained in said cylinder and dial and yarn feeding stations adjacent to and between which and said needles there is relative movement to form a rib cuff and other fabric in continuation of said cuff which comprises the steps of feeding a yarn at each of a plurality of feeding sta tions, and during such feeding, moving spaced ones of the needles to clear their loops and then retracting them to take a yarn at alternate feeds, maintaining said needles in tuck position with the yarn thus taken lying against their latches until they are affected at the next succeeding intermediate feed, and at those intermediate feeds, taking a second yarn in the hooks of those needles and retracting them to draw stitches embodying both' said yarns, and after terminating the knitting of said rib cuff, forming other fabric in continuation by taking and separately knitting a yarn at each of said feeds 6. A method of knitting in a rib knitting machine having a cylinder, a dial, latch needles operatively maintained in said cylinder and dial and yarn feeding stations adjacent to and between which and said needles there is relative movement to form a rib cuff and other fabric in continuation of said cuff which comprises the steps of feeding a yarn continuously at each of a plurality of feeding stations, and during such feeding, moving certain of the needles to clear their loops and then retracting them to take the yarn at one said feed, maintaining said needles in tuck position with the yarn thus taken lying against their latches until they are affected at the next succeeding feed, and at that feed, taking a second yarn in the hooks of said needles and retracting them to draw stitches embodying both said yarns, and after terminating the knitting of said cuff forming an interlock fabric in continuation by taking and separately knitting a .yarn at each said feed while varying the needle selection from alternate dial and cylinder needles at a first feed to intermediate ones of said needles at the following feed.

References Cited in the file of thispatent UNITED STATES PATENTS 925,393 Scott June 15, 1909 1,083,564 Scott Ja 6, 1914 1,094,482 Scott Apr. 28, 1914 2,391,665 Wildt et al. Dec. 25, 1945 2,525,704 Miller Oct. 10, 1950 2,775,880 Phillip Jan. 1, 19 57 L H Q 

